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Recent Events: Common Reactions of Children to Trauma

In light of the recent traumatic events in Har Nof, Jerusalem, Chai4ever shares common reactions of children to trauma. This is an important read for parents, educators and administrators. For more information or to speak with a grief counselor, please call 646.519.2190.

Common Reactions of Children to Trauma

When tragedy strikes, children may suddenly find themselves thrust into a world that can be scary and uncertain. The fear and confusion that results can be almost palpable and the impact of trauma is so powerful and pervasive that it can affect children in many ways, including the physical, emotional, spiritual, behavioral and cognitive aspects of their daily lives.

As children are the most vulnerable members of our community, it is crucial to monitor how they react to the news they have heard. First, there a few vital points to keep in mind:

1) Trauma can be likened to a stone thrown into a pond. The resulting ripples spread, hitting everything in their wake and affecting their surrounding environment.

Numerous factors may determine the impact the news will have, including:

Illnesses (current or prior) that the child, or those he/she knows, may have;

Recent losses and changes, such as death, divorce, breaking up with a friend, going away for the summer, moving residences, changing schools;

Roller coaster: reactions may come and go at any time with no discernable cycle or pattern. A child may have some initial reactions, start to feel better, become exceptionally relieved, and then experience incredible dismay upon experiencing reactions again.

Wax and wane: level of strength may get stronger and weaker.

Reactions may vary from day to day, or week to week: crying one day, loss of appetite the next, anger a few weeks down the line.

Children can feel as if they have lost their bearings. They may begin to feel different and alone, questioning their own ability to weather the whirlwind of thoughts and emotions.

Non-reactions: outside of immediate family and friends, not everyone has a strong reaction to a trauma that has happened so far away to people he/she doesn’t know. Not having the feeling that others are experiencing may in turn trigger feelings of guilt.

For some, reactions may occur at a later time.

3) Generally speaking, it is considered within “normal range” for a person to have strong reactions for up to 30 days. While the famous psychotherapist and author Viktor Frankl stressed that, “An abnormal reaction to an abnormal situation is normal behavior,” it remains absolutely vital to understand that if a child, or anyone else, is exhibiting signs of being potentially harmful to themselves or others, he/she should immediately go to the nearest hospital. Outside of such extreme situations, if you have serious concerns about your child’s reactions, or lack of reactions, it is advisable to consult with a mental health professional.

At Chai4ever, we help mitigate the impact of parental illness or loss on children by providing practical and emotional support to allow families to maintain routines and reinstate a semblance of normal childhood throughout this challenging time.

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